Jewelry Making Outside The Box

Lori Anderson's Virtual Craft Fair

Just when I thought Lori Anderson couldn't pull any more stops---she is the genius behing BEAD SOUP PARTY (a blog hop where hundreds of people sign up and are paired to exchange beads and focals, and must create a design for the hop, which is beloved and very well-known)  now:

She's got the ULTIMATE  Virtual Craft Fair.

I feel like a dummo for only today picking up on this.

First of all, I would have liked to have participated, but wasn't paying attention.  It's hard to keep track of all the events in the blogosphere....that's why when YOU participate in MINE, I feel so honored.  It takes time to do this stuff.....and I know it.

Second, I would have liked to have reported on this waaay before the fact, so that if YOU didn't know about it, you could have participated by submitting photos and being involved, too.

ANYWAY....you might still be able to win something:

Go to Pretty Things

that's http://www.prettythingsblog.com/

Carefully read through the details.

Lori would like you to :

Comment

blog

Facebook

Twitter          her craft fair pages.   You don't have to do all of those things but for all the hard work she's put into this, pull out all the stops and let people know.   You might win something or get a good deal on some great artisan handmade pieces.

I'm not blogging to win.  I had a look at her event and I am just blown away.  Lori deserves a BUNCH of shout-outs.  She is the QUEEN of the blog hop.

It doesn't get better than this....so hop on over there.    Right away!  You will have SUCH fun, and it's great to promote handmade and small business.

Piecing Jewelry Mixed Media Style, Part Two

More along those lines....I am really into this idea of piecing your neckline, or your jewelry designs.   Think outside of the box as you go along:   What can I create from a mixture of products?  How can I keep cost down while making the piece exciting....and fun to make, as well as wear?

Here is another necklace I made this week that required 'piecing':

I've used quite a number of different items in this one, and none of them were terribly expensive.  The most expensive are the mottled ceramic Japanese beads with the gold on them;  they are 60's era and becoming pretty collectable.   I found them on one of my last buying trips.

The polymer clay beads are ones that I made, and I've included one of my signature 'spiral' beads....I LOVE them!   I also used some of the new green patina brass from the website:

http://www.bsueboutiques.com/green_patina_brass.shtml

A different perspective, in outdoor light!  The old watch movement focal is set in a piece of verdigris brass that I made a long time ago.  It looks a good bit like our green patina; but when you measure time over making the verdi brass, I'd rather use green patina.  Verdi brass is fun to make but it takes time and the results aren't always even.

A good close look at the components.  We have almost all of them at the website, B'sue Boutiques

Have you tried making your own clay beads yet?   We have everything you need to get started, if you don't have any clay.....but!  like as not you've got some stashed in your workshop!  Get that clay out, condition it and get started! It is SO much fun, and your own hand made clay beads add so much to a design (and are economical to make, too!)

Do you see that one rectangular fat poly clay bead on the left side?  Doesn't it remind you of a candy-store chocolate out of a box?  This time of year I always want chocolates!   BAD for me!

I manipulated the brass around the watch movement and glued it to the back of the slightly dapt filigree.   To cover the glue on the back, I glued a square bezel, back UP, over the movement, on the BACK of the filigree.  I don't have a photo of that just now but I'll get one.   That's a nice way to cover any glue showing through and provides a sleek, professional finish.  Also, it makes a great place to sign your work.

So I guess I'll sign this one, and get another photo, for another blog post....and show you how!

Piecing Jewelry Mixed Media Style

Piecing jewelry?   You mean, like piecing a quilt?

Sorta-kinda!

Everyone needs to be able to get the most impact from their jewelry designs, these days.  Visual appeal, texture, economy....all are tremendous factors.

That's why I think mixed media jewelry is the bomb....you CAN do all of the above.  "Piecing" your design is a great way to go.

In most cases you'll start with a bowl of beads, perhaps big ones, unique ones, or a focal.  From there, you work the design slowly, trying this, trying that, till you get it where you want it.

Here is an example:

For this necklace I started out with some rather large polymer clay beads of various sizes....just a handful....in a certain color family.   I started putting them together with an array of textural bead caps lying about on my desk, trying this one, then that one, making sections.

Then I began to try one section against another:

Maybe the sideways picture will help you understand the progression of things.   I ended up with one long side section, and then a shorter one.

I love assymetry, so I swiped some stray chain from another work surface and paired  with yet some more off a roll I'd bought long ago and never used much.

I actually doubled over some sections and them jumped them together.  I used heavy and doubled jumps along the way, and from some of them I hung small green patina charms and little beads and washers.   You can find the Green Patina brass  here at B'sue Boutiques:

http://www.bsueboutiques.com/green_patina_brass.shtml

I made most of the eyepins myself just by snipping off bits of 20 and 22 gauge wire and turning them.

I really love this necklace and have been enjoying wearing it this week.   Some have wondered if it's heavy, because of the big beads....no!   I forget it I have it on.

BTW, the accent finish on the clay beads is mixed.  Some have Gilder's paste and Sculpey glaze, some have VIVA decor MOP finish.

 

Cleaning Your Jewelry....Should You?

That got your attention, right?

Well...it should, anyway.

I get questions from folks from time to time asking about our finishes, will they turn, are they strong, will they wear off.

My response is:  IT DEPENDS.

As far as being strong, you bet your boots our finishes are strong!   Our finishes really are industry best and designer quality.....and! that's on purpose!  I don't want to sell you something that wears right off when you run a fingernail over it.  I've seen imported brass like that.  If you rubbed it with your thumb, it would come OFF on your thumb.  Ugh.

At the same time, folks, it's COSTUME JEWELRY.  It's not precious metal.   It's BRASS with thick plating.   It's sealed well, but depending on the acid content in a person's skin as well as other environmental factors, YES OF COURSE... IT CAN TURN.

The good news is that there is a solution to that.   CLEAN IT.

Would you wear the same pair of jeans day in and day out and never wash them?

EUWWWWW.

I would offer then, why would you never clean your jewelry?  Come on, it's against your SKIN.   *YOU*  take a bath and we all know why people need a bath!

The jewelry needs to be cleaned.

It's simple to clean fine jewelry, for the most part.  You don't have to worry about mixed media materials, fiber, plating, brass, glass stones.

How do you deal with cleaning jewelry made of plated brass?

At Judi Bollan's group, JEWELRY RING, which specializes in the discussion of vintage costume jewelry, the subject of cleaning comes up often.    I used to carry a solution called Jewelry Joose, which was the bomb for cleaning plated costume jewelry.  Unfortunately, the company closed business and I can't get any more.

What to do!

Jesse from Jesse's Vintage http://www.etsy.com/shop/JessesVintage posted to the group and offered what  a great tip:

There is a cleaner at the dollar store called LA Awesome.   It costs about a dollar, it's a lemonade-color in a rather large squirt bottle, so you sure get a good bang for your buck.

Jesse dilutes LA Awesome, 50% LA and 50% water.   He  puts it in a small disposable cup, then, he takes a cheap child's soft toothbrush and dips into the solution.  Lightly brushing, he cleans all the plated metal, front, back and sides.

He pays careful attention to any open back stones, and to not be so zealous so that glue is loosened or that foil on stones is damaged.

Then, he does a quick rinse in cold water, pats dry with a towel.   After that, out comes a small hair dryer to get the areas you can't reach with the towel.

KEY is to get that piece of jewelry VERY DRY!  Especially true is the foil back stones.   DON'T DUNK the stones.   Just use the toothbrush, and don't get a bunch of solution back in behind any prong-set stones.   If you do, use that hair dryer and get it DRY.

You can also use a cotton swab, and gently roll it over each stone.  Clean in between the openbacked settings.  It's a lot of work, but your piece may warrant it.  Again, the main thing is that you get the jewelry COMPLETELY DRY.

Another good tool to remove tarnish quickly is a SUNSHINE CLOTH, which we sell at B'sue Boutiques   Remember, 'tarnish' may not be discoloration  in the sense that it is disagreeable.   Most of we artists like the dark, old, vintage look.   So when you use SUNSHINE, go easy.   Plating CAN be removed if you rub the piece down with lots of elbow grease.  It is not meant to be used that way, it's for surface cleaning and buffing.

Never  use the cloth once it gets black and dirty, as it will pick up micro bits of metal as you go along and that can be rubbed back into the piece and SCRATCH IT.

Once you get your SS cloth all black, time to get another.  What I do to get the most use from a SS cloth, is cut it in four pieces.   That way you will use every nook and cranny of it!

Do you have a favorite way to clean costume jewelry?  Would you like to share it?  Feel free!

 

Everybody Wants Some Easy-Peasy Earrings

In this season of trying to match up the right gift with the right giftee....or getting together the right batch of impulse-priced goods to sell at your shows...

The obvious choice (to me, anyway!) is EASY PEASY EARRINGS.

What's that?

Well, it's a little more than three beads on a head pin.

And a lot less than intricate beaded numbers that take hours.

Easy peasy earrings can be put together of a few simple findings, maybe some stray beads or even some of your polymer clay charms, and made in fifteen minutes....or less.

Here are some examples you might enjoy:

Little cuties from Coral Law, using some of the little free tea charms in her goody bag and some fluted Czech glass flowers.  

And another:

Robin Delargy said she didn't want to make polymer clay beads.   Oh no?  And how about THESE:

She must have been watching my videos....we had a couple on how versatile brass stampings are, used as polymer clay MOLDS.

Dr. Brassy is totally into easy peasy earrings with this pair that JUST FLOWS:

Brassy always shows us every angle of her products.  These are our silverware silverplated tulip beads, and she's demonstrated how they'd look blowin' in the wind.  Easy peasy!

Harry did some awesome sterling and agate drops....we don't usually feature precious metals at B'sue Boutiques  since I'm the Brass and Glass lady...but y'know.  I'd totally wear these!  Easy peasy!

I made some easy peasy numbers, too....and I'm wearing them all the time, lately:

From our new green brass, which BTW....appears to be a HIT and we'll have a whole section of it soon.   Here's a cuttlebugged pair I love:

Just took a pr. of raw brass blanks, torched em, put em through the Cuttlebug, and then applied a bit of ink, etc to accent....sealed and hung em!

Here are some pod charm earrings....that's when you layer flower parts and caps with cool beads.  These are some vintage plastic beads that look like wound balls of yarn:

I hope that got your juices flowing!   I'm a bit peeved as I've still got too much paperwork today to do to go down in the workshop....but!   maybe tomorrow!

How Do I Get B'sue To Feature My Jewelry Art?

Have you been asking yourself that?

Have you been a customer for sometime, and wondering, HEY!   I have used alot of B'sue Boutiques products in my design work.   How come she never features ME?

First, let me say....I would LOVE to feature you!   But there's a channel that makes it easy for me to pick up your photos and get behind your enterprise, and I need you to take advantage of it:

Number one is join B'sue Boutiques Creative Group and post your photos often.   Find the Group here:  http://www.flickr.com/groups/bsueboutiques/

Or, come to B'sue Boutiques Facebook Fan Page and post your photos there, OR on my personal page, Brenda Sue Lansdowne.   That way they will automatically go out into my feed....I won't even have to grab them, just comment on them!

From those two sources I pull pix to put in this blog from time to time, or the weekly newsletter.

Like this one I featured today at Facebook, by Kimberlee Turner, known as Dr. Brassy Steamington:

This piece has SEVERAL recognizable focals that came from B'sue Boutiques

Kimberlee even named them in her description with the photo:  Bsue Mighty Oak Frame Item # fig43 , with Intricate Pierced Filigree Item # fil17 and Moroccan Influence Item # rgp01434.

You don't have to do that, but it's really cool when you do!  As many will want to know.

The community growing up around the B'sue Boutiques  website has room for you.  You are warmly invited to share in our contests, our blog hops and challenges.   If you are ready to learn, grow and share, this is a great place for you.  

I have had such joy in watching new artists emerge to be great artists over the years.   I realize we may not carry EVERYTHING you want to use in your work, but we do carry a great deal of things that are tried and true.    For years I stalked the perfect finish and the best plater to carry it out.   I spent a lot of time in the vintage trade learning about designers of the past, and what worked back in the day....so that those ideas could be brought  forward to the 21st century.  

I use this stuff and believe in it, and I know it will work for you, if you're into our style at B'sue Boutiques.

And even if you're not, I hope I can open your eyes to some new possibilities.  You CAN become a self-supporting artist.   The dream is possible, as long as you are willing to work hard.  

It's my pleasure to help you along the way, wherever I can!

 

Who WON? And Another Crack At A Great Prize

I'm happy to say that Tamara Jones' name was pulled to win the big double layered necklace I made and wore in last week's video!

My goal is to send it right out to her in the mail TOMORROW!

THANKS to everyone who took part.  Your participation was to me, an act of friendship.  You helped me to know what makes you tick as an artist, and which of our products sparked your creativity best.

You've still got a great chance at another prize, too!

Visit my friend, Pearl Blay, at the Beading Gem.   Pearl has a busy, remarkable blog that you really should bookmark.   She spends so much of her time doing research and reporting on all sorts of jewelry making techniques.    This is the second time she has asked me to be a sponsor for a prize giveaway at her site....and I said YES!  with pleasure.

Here is the link:

http://www.beadinggem.com/2011/11/bsue-boutiques-25-gift-certificate.html

Go on over and make a comment for Pearl, so you can be entered into the drawing!   You might win a 25.00 gift certificate to B'sue Boutiques

And be sure to follow Pearl's blog.  You won't be sorry you did!

Favorite Things: Heads Up! This is A Contest and The Prize Is Sweet

A few of my favorite things.....

Russian Goldplated brass from our website, B'sue Boutiques   This piece is on major sale and it's one I am personally NEVER without in my workshop:

Find it here:  http://www.bsueboutiques.com/item/Old-World-Pierced-Floral-Filigree-2994

I also like these Tussie cones.  Have you discovered them yet?

They are here:  http://www.bsueboutiques.com/item/Filigree-Tussie-Mussie-Findings-3870   They are rolled filigree with a loop on the end, you can make tussie mussie brooches from them.   Glue in some flowers and the pinback goes on vertically to the back, and hang a little drop.  Take very little time to make, I used to sell SO MANY of them at shows.  The finding is a fave, and it's on sale, too!

I love Russian Goldplate and we will be featuring it alot for Spring 2012.

I love this little Steampunk propeller in chocolate brass, but I over-ordered a bit....so grab them up for only 95 cents each:

http://www.bsueboutiques.com/item/Chocolate-Ox-Patina-Airplane-Propeller-7891

This clamp bracelet can be embellished...or not.  The fit is a dream.  So many times they made these round, and your wrist isn't round, it's oval.  These are oval.  SO, they fit!

They are on sale, too!   http://www.bsueboutiques.com/item/1-78-Inch-Wide-Black-Hinged-Cuff-w-Magnetic-Clasp--Embellish-It-7733

Okay, enough of me.  I  would like for you to tell me about YOUR favorite things from the B'sue Boutiques website.   There will be a VERY cool prize for one happy participant.

WHAT TO DO:   Comment here and include a link back to my website to an item you really like.  It can be something you've used, something you're planning on getting or are anticipating using in a project.  Tell me why you like it, even what you would do with it, if you like.  THEN, also:

I need you to back that comment up with tweets or FB posts   ***with the link to the item***.  Just put it on YOUR wall at Facebook.  Or my Facebook wall , at Brenda Sue Lansdowne (not at the B'sue Boutiques Fan Page).  

Tweets would also be great, please include the link in your tweet or FB post.  

Or if you want, you can also repost this blog post  about the contest on your blog, or talk about this contest and link to my post.

If you do those things and help me promo your fave things at my website, I will have a drawing and the winner gets this:

This is the necklace I wore in yesterday's video and features some of my handmade beads as well as green brass.

You don't have to buy anything to win, but you do have to do the work to be eligible to win, because this necklace is worth about 85.00.

I will also hand-sign the piece over to the winner, with a date.

You have until Sunday night at midnight, and on Monday,  I'll announce here and on Facebook, who got the necklace.   I need you to:

1.  Comment  and include a link

2.  Tweet or Facebook or BOTH, and include a link

3.  Repost this blog post or a link to it on your blog, if you have one, if possible.

I've been reading that having contests like this is a great way to engage people and find out who is really reading your blog.   It takes me a lot of effort to get a piece done these days since there is so much going on, so giving something FAB like this away is quite special.

I am putting this out there as an experiment to see how many participate---I'm looking at it as an excersize that will benefit all of us, as if it does well here, you might like to try it.  We did great with the Sari Ribbon Hop....let's see what happens.

I hope YOU!!!  win.

Reviewing Techniques is Always a Good Thing....With A Little Meep On The Side

No it's not shafuffah.....it's Meep on the side.

*Inside joke....gotta know the old Nat King Cole song...if you actually KNOW what I am talking about, quote me back some of the words of the song and I'll send you a giftie.*

I did two 'reprise' style videos today because, as we go along, lots of new folks coming in and wanting to know basic assemblage and glue techniques.  There are so many videos now *I* can't even remember where to send them!   SO:   Here is one about that....and....

 

If you tune in, you'll get to meet Meepie, Meep the Cat, as he has joined us for the first part of the video.

Then, in this video, we kaffeeklatsch just a bit and discuss more about the value of your work, and I use a pair of earrings I just made as  a case example on the value of your work:

 

Would you like to see my necklace a little closer?

This one features that cool new green patina brass.  I have more on the way; and I believe there are still some of these stampings at the site.    Esmey uploaded a photo at B'sue Boutiques Creative Group using this finding in a different way:

I dunno what you think, but this stuff is so cool.  Did you see Beanzie's new big charm bracelet using the green brass?

Check her out at the Vintage Heart, Beanzie Cat at FB.....the bracelet is for sale, if someone hasn't already snapped it up.

I'll sell my necklace, too, if you're interested...  ;-)

 

Is It Time For You To Take a Class? Jen Came All the Way from Oz

So many of we artists are truly self-taught.

Still....there comes a time along the journey that even the best of  self-taught artists take a hankering for a class, with someone whose work we've long admired.

A case in point is chronicled on  Jen Crossley's  blog, A Mark In Time.

Jen  came to Art and Soul Artist Retreat  in Portland, Oregon  as a teacher, as well as a student.   The remarkable thing is that she came all the way from Oz.....the land down under!.....Australia.

Jen does amazing, thoughtful mixed media work such as this delightful piece:

She relates her journey to teach in the US at her blog, via this entry:

http://amarkintime.blogspot.com/2011/10/art-n-soul-part-one.html

Jen and her husband arrived some days before the event in Portland to drive up the coast, taking in the US West Coast sights.     This photo pulled at my heartstrings:

The  best part of attending an event like Art and Soul (or others similar) is not only what you learn.  It's also the friends you make, what you learn from being with those friends, and experiencing one on one time with a teacher or an artist you may only have heard or read about.

I loved this photo from Jen's blog documentary:

Jen Crossley is on the right, and her roomate, Joan is on the left ( at artist retreats you can many times opt to share a room and cut costs with another artist/student).  In the middle, is my friend, Jean Van Brederode.

Jean Van Brederode sat next to me in my first class at Art and Soul, Hampton Va, in 2010.  Jean is amazing with torch-fired enamels and the Bonny Doon hydraulic press.

First Jen took some classes, but then  it came her turn to teach!   She had some delightful students.....who did some amazing work, such as:

Would you like to take a class  and have this kind of fun?   I checked the teaching schedule, posted at her blog.  Jen will be teaching at Art and Soul again, in March of 2012....Virginia, USA. 

The  roster of teachers for the Virginia Beach installment  is solid.  I can assure you it's worth saving your pennies to go.   I see that my pal, Barbe Saint John, has a bunch of classes, as well as does Jen Crossley and Jean Van Brederode.    Sally Jean Alexander has a solid schedule, too, and still a number of openings.   She is a sweetheart; I have yet to take her class, but look forward to it one day.

The year I went, I took classes from my pals, Linda and Opie O'Brien, then a killer class from Thomas Mann, and then a fabulous resin two-parter from the unsinkable, unbelievable Susan Lenhart Kazmer.   Each class was a different sort of experience and I am glad I chose the ones I did.   My experience with ICE resin is one I will never forget, and taking that class from Susan herself has been a highlight of my artistic career.

I often think....what if I had not taken that leap, and never had that experience?

When I decided to go to Art and Soul,  I might as WELL have come all the way from OZ.....I'd been in this business over 20 years, never had a public class, and was afraid of it, quite frankly.   I mean...  What if someone knew who I was?    What if I just couldn't do the work in class?  Sheesh....what if I made a fool of myself?

All I can tell you....and Jen will agree....is you  just *can't*  think like that.

I'd like to teach at Art and Soul one day.  Sheesh, after 54 videos and all this writing I do, it would be the next step, dontcha think?   A good experience to have.

That's what the artistic life is....a conglomeration of experiences, so rich and  full of friendship and new creative light.   It's a new path down a new road:

Take a step up!  Take a class.  ;-)

Here's that link to Art and Soul again.....if you see Jen, give her a hug from B'sue!

http://www.artandsoulretreat.com